Who said that? This comment came from the very people who had spent a day with Jesus nearly 2000 years ago. Recorded in Luke 5:26, this passage reflects feelings of awe from witnesses of a miraculous demonstration of healing and is suggestive of underlying spiritual principles from which the miracle arose.

The Greek word paradoxos means "contrary to what was expected" and can be translated as paradoxical, strange, or incredible. The teachings and demonstrations of the master were indeed unbelievable to the religious leaders of the day, but the common people were willing to believe in their hearts what they saw with their own eyes and heard with their own ears.

The life of Jesus was so incredible because it was the out-picturing of a world-view quite contrary to the mass consciousness of that period ... or even of today. His teachings were a contradiction to the very fabric of life. In this message, we will consider what the Master taught about God, The Kingdom of Heaven, and Love.

Consider first of all that he addressed God as Abba, a term of endearment. He did not teach the lord/servant relationship of his fellow Jews. Rather Jesus introduced a personal, more intimate one. It was the close relationship of a son to his Dad or a daughter to her Daddy. Even praying to God as your Father-in-heaven does not really get it. To enter into the spirit of the master, you must pray to your "Heavenly Papa". Try it on for size -- sound incredible? No wonder the Pharisees were outraged!

Here's another: "My kingdom is not of this world," he said to Pilate. Israel's hope was a political one, that a Christ or Messiah in the tradition of David would come to destroy the Roman leadership and rule over Israel as their king.

However, the Master clarified, "The kingdom of God (heaven) is within you." Not a physical place, but an invisible presence of infinite possibilities. Jesus taught about the kingdom of expanded consciousness, a spiritual approach to dealing with life's challenges. His path was not about the ego controlling the outer, but of our Spirit commanding the inner. Change who is thinking your thoughts rather than how to change your world. Incredible!

Now consider this one: The law of Moses read, "Love your neighbor and hate your enemy." But hatred disconnects us from our spirituality, whose very nature is Love. It divides and separates us from each other and from God.

So the message Jesus gave is to "love one another as I (the Christ Spirit) have loved you". Love leaves no one out; not your enemies, not even yourself. Love is inclusive, uniting all as one -- quite a drastic innovation to fully understand and apply, even today. Indeed, it is humanly impossible to love some people. But Love is not what your ego does. Love is who you are and Love knows how to love. Incredible!